Eleanor Barr, 98, Sanfordville

SANFORDVILLE – Eleanor C. Barr, 98, a longtime resident of Pickle Street, peacefully passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 5, 2023 at her home, where she was able to remain under the loving care of her dear friend Renee Mason and her son Alan.

Eleanor was born August 19, 1925 at the family home in Fort Jackson, NY, the daughter of the late Leo James and Ethel Victoria (Thurston) Converse. She was a 1943 graduate of St. Regis Falls High School.

Upon graduation, Eleanor began working at Alcoa as a cost time clerk. After the war ended and with the urging of a friend, she moved to Worcester, MA and worked briefly at the Melville Shoe Company. She later went to New York City to train for bookkeeping. Eleanor then moved to Newburgh, NY, where her aunt and uncle lived, and was a bookkeeper at Columbus Trust Company. There she met the love of her life, Robert H. (Bob) Barr. They were married on September 3, 1950, at the Calvary Presbyterian Church in Newburgh with Rev. Wilbur Franklin officiating.

Eleanor relocated to Morton, PA in 1950 for Bob's education and work. It is here where they started a family. In 1960 she returned to Northern New York and the Potsdam area when a teaching opportunity arose for Bob at Clarkson. Eleanor then dedicated her life and time to raising a family. Bob predeceased her on November 26, 2000.

She had a great love for bowling, where she was the past president of the Hit & Miss Bowling League and forged many friendships over her 56 years of bowling. She was an active communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, avid Clarkson Hockey fan, and enjoyed walking, bicycling, baking, and traveling having visited Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and Hawaii as a few of her destinations.

Eleanor is survived by her sons, Stephen and Lana Barr of Norwood, Robert Barr of St. Cloud, Minnesota, James Barr of Colonie, and Alan Barr of Sanfordville; her granddaughters, Janet (Justin) Smith, Kathleen (Travis) Tromans, and Laura (Richard) Cooke; her great grandchildren, Klara, Jiri, Patrick, Keegan, Holden, and Violet; her sister-in-law, Sue Converse of Fort Jackson; a nephew, Roger Murray; a niece, Denise McGowan; and many great nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Edna Murray and her brother, Lawrence Converse.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Donaldson-Seymour Funeral Home, where friends may call Monday 1-4:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with burial to follow in Sanfordville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may consider memorial contributions to be made in her memory to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley.